Double-barreled contact lens practitioners

by Barney

I’ve been wearing contact lenses since 1964. I was fitted with my first pair by Keith Clifford Hall at his rooms in London’s prestigious Park Lane.

After Mr Clifford Hall’s death, I was passed on to his former assistant, Miss Thompson. Miss Thompson was unique amongst my contact lens practitioners in having a single-barreled surname. After Miss Thomspon retired, I moved on to Mr David Evershed-Martin. When Mr Evershed-Martin developed cancer and had to give up his London practice, he suggested I go to Mr Nigel Burnett Hodd’s practice in Devonshire Street - which I did.

I had to get one of my new lenses checked today. Mr Burnett Hodd was not available, so I saw Mr David Raz-Rhodes instead.

I’m sure that the majority of contact lens practitioners don’t have such interesting double-barreled names, so it’s a curious feature of my 43 years with contact lenses that so many of the optometrists who’ve cared for my eyes and my contact lenses have had such distinguished monikers. And they’ve all been connected with each other in one way or another. David Evershed-Martin’s father worked with Keith Clifford Hall. Nigel Burnett Hodd and David-Raz Rhodes are close friends of Mr Evershed-Martin’s. Mr Raz-Rhodes studied optometry at the same time as David Evershed-Martin and they shared a flat after they had qualified.

My first consultation with Mr Clifford Hall and my first set of lenses cost my mother

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15 comments

1 bilo { 06.29.07 at 00:43 }: Barney,
You can see my son for free, but you will have to travel
2 Barney { 06.29.07 at 09:01 }: Thanks for the offer, Bilo, but I think I’ll stick with my double-barreled gentlemen. London’s far enough for my contact lenses!
3 Michael { 06.29.07 at 13:04 }: I think I need a referral to Mr K.C. H.

The reason is that when I look at the world map on your site my vision of the planet is obscured by lots of red dots.
4 Michael { 06.29.07 at 13:13 }: It just shows how bad my vision is, asking for an appointment to see somebody who is now in a place where all inhabitants have 20 20 vision (or is that 19 19 vision?)
5 Jo { 06.29.07 at 13:35 }: Barney, Bilo and Michael,

Have a nice weekend.

Barbey, you have think to change the “
6 Barney { 06.29.07 at 14:21 }: Michael, I’m sure you’ll get to meet Mr K. C. H. in good time - or, perhaps, when you’re out of time. But, for now, I find Mr N. B. H and Mr D. R-R very good.

I am very happy to have so many red dots on my map!

Jo
7 Derek { 06.29.07 at 23:48 }: I have never liked Contact lenses and my daughter Laili is married to an Optican, so one has the inside edge on the optical items. But living in the USA means we get examined when we visit Laili and David. I relaise Barney that you are seeing red is this a problem for you? Also I am sure David will be happy to see you.
8 Barney { 06.30.07 at 09:07 }: Thanks for the suggestion about David, Derek. Actually things work pretty well with my double-barreled gents.
9 Sophie Taylor-West { 07.10.07 at 20:28 }: You may be amused to know I’m also an Optometrist, and have just started working at Nigel Burnett Hodd’s practice. Maybe you’ll see me next time and add another double-barrelled Optician to your lost!
10 Barney { 07.10.07 at 20:42 }: I hope to meet you next time I have an appointment with Nigel. It’s like to be a year or so.

It would certainly be amusing to add another double-barrelled Optometrist to my list.

I hope all goes well for you with at Mr Burnett Hodd’s practice.
11 James Knight { 07.10.07 at 20:53 }: Now there’s an interesting degree Thesis for someone… does optometry find practitioners with double-barreled names, or do practitioners with double-barreled names gravitate to optometry?

First to answer correctly gets a free eye test.
12 Barney { 07.10.07 at 21:00 }: Interesting research question, and good reward for the first correct answer. But what if both propositions are true?
13 James Knight { 07.11.07 at 10:40 }: Mutually attracitve? Hmmm. Hadn’t thought of that one.

If that is that case then we can predict with reasonable accuracy the future direction of both optometrists and people with double-barreled names.

A further thought - do mothers who retain their maiden names as part of their married names realise what they are doing to their children’s futures?
14 Lora { 07.13.08 at 19:41 }: How strange to wander onto this sight. I am an optometry student, about to change my surname to include my spouse’s (so it will be double-barreled). Synchronicity?

I’d be very interested to see the results of that research project, when someone gets round to undertaking it.
15 Barney { 07.16.08 at 20:25 }: Lora, welcome to this little bit of madness. And thank you for adding the evidence about double-barreled optometrists!

I shall never now feel that I’m getting my money’s worth if I find myself being treated by an optometrist named Smith. No prejudice against Smiths - in fact, some of my best friends are Smiths - but for the money I want at least a double-barreled name!